On the time of this writing, fall is (lastly) settling in right here in western Montana. Following an uncommon prolonged dry summer season, it has begun to snow within the excessive nation. Little doubt, grizzly bears are deep in hyperphagia—the annual organic cycle the place bears search to devour as many energy as potential to organize their our bodies for an extended winter of hibernation.
The Endangered Species Coalition can be getting ready. We anticipate an announcement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the subsequent few months that would change the trajectory of grizzly bear restoration within the western U.S., and we’re elevating the alarm. By a court-approved deadline of January 31, 2025, the USFWS will likely be issuing its closing standing assessment of grizzly bear protections within the Yellowstone (GYE) and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems (NCDE). On the identical time, we anticipate that USFWS will even announce a revision to the best way grizzly bears are at present protected underneath the Endangered Species Act, presumably proposing to take away federal protections for one or each of these populations of bears.
Little doubt, grizzly bear populations in each restoration zones have rebounded tremendously because the grizzly was listed in 1975, and certainly, grizzly are exhibiting up in historic habitat the place they haven’t been seen in a century. (The GYE and NCDE are every about 1,000 bears at present.) Due to many years of devoted conservation efforts by federal, state and tribal wildlife managers, wildlife conservation teams, sportsmen and landowners, the Yellowstone and NCDE inhabitants of grizzly bears has met and exceeded the inhabitants and distribution standards within the Restoration Plan.
But it surely’s too quickly to declare victory. Grizzly bear populations stay disconnected from one another, whilst biologists say that pure connectivity is essential to restoration. The Montana legislature has just lately handed legal guidelines increasing wolf trapping in grizzly bear habitat, granting permits to livestock producers to kill grizzly bears that they deem a “menace” to livestock—even on public land. And we all know that outfitters are chomping on the bit to promote grizzly bear trophy hunts. Briefly, based mostly on how hostile state governments in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have turn into in the direction of grizzlies, wolves and different native carnivores, we expect a delisting at the moment might halt grizzly bear restoration in its tracks, and even reverse a whole lot of the progress we’ve made up to now.
So, ESC will proceed to combat for stronger, not weaker, protections for grizzly bears. We might respect your voice at this essential time—please write a letter to the editor of your favourite information outlet urging the USFWS to maintain grizzly bears protected in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. We’ve put collectively a easy toolkit, full with some instructed speaking factors, to make it straightforward so that you can write and submit a letter. Your voice is appreciated!
In the meantime, it’s time for me to say a heartfelt goodbye to the Coalition. After almost twenty years working with ESC in various capacities, I will likely be transferring on to work within the decarbonization area—working with one other nonprofit group to develop and advance clear, equitable, and inexpensive power insurance policies in Montana and Idaho. I’m grateful for the chance to combat for wildlife with the Coalition all these years, in addition to for all of the help from our members, donors and activists. I do know you all will keep on the combat. All the most effective.
Derek Goldman, Northern Rockies Consultant and Discipline Director
